Hand-operated buffer and method of developing same



May 6, 1969 D. M. GOWDEY 3,441,971

HAND-OPERATED BUFFER AND METHOD OF DEVELOPING SAME Filed Feb. 6, 1967Sheet of 2 ATTOR/VE Y5 May 6, 1969 D. MrG'O WDEY 3,

HAND-OPERATED BUFFER AND METHOD OF DEYELOPING SAME Filed Feb. 6. 1967 DI v Sheet 2 of 2 INVENTOR. pw/ax/r M 6 we) v BY vwd W ATTORNEYS UnitedStates Patent Olflce 3,441,971 Patented May 6, 1969 US. Cl. 15-210 17Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A hand-operated buffer is disclosedwhich is comprised of a buffer pad and an inflatable bladder that issuperposed over the pad and interconnected with it so as to make the twoconjointly shiftable. A pair of recesses on opposite sides of thebuffer, between the bladder and the bottom of the pad, make it possibleto grip the bladder with the hand for purposes of lifting and shiftingthe buffer about on the surface to be buffed. Certain additionalfeatures, and certain disclosed methods for making the buffer, also makeit possible to partially disassemble the buflier and then, if desired,to reshape it into a more compact form for storage.

Field of the invention This invention relates to buffers, and moreparticularly to a hand-operated buffer, such as a shoe buffer, which isreadily storable in a small, confined space, such as a bureau drawer, atraveling bag, a small case for business and legal papers, or even thepocket of ones pants.

Discussion of the prior art Pneumatically inflatable brushes are known,as for example that disclosed in the Hardy 793,657 US. patent. However,all require a rigid backing which defeats the objects and advantages ofthe present invention.

Summary of the invention One object of the invention is to provide ashoe buffer or the like which can be easily gripped in the hand andcomfortably applied to a shoe or other surface to be buffed, yet readilycollapsed in size when not in use, and, if desired, rolled, folded orotherwise reshaped into a more compact form for storage.

Another object is to provide a shoe buffer or the like which has thesefeatures but which, in addition, can be partially disassembled tofacilitate reshaping it into a more compact form.

A still further object is to devise methods and techniques for making abuffer which has these features and which, if desired, can be sold inkit form for assembly by the purchaser.

Still other objects of the invention include providing a buffer of thisnature which is cheap and easy to manufacture, which can be quickly andreliably assemble-d, even by the purchaser himself, and which is durableto frequent use.

Other objects will become apparent from the description of the inventionwhich follows.

These objects and advantages are realized by a handoperated buffer of myinvention which is formed by superposing an inflatable bladder over apad of butter material; interconnecting the bladder and the pad so thatthey are conjointly shiftable; inflating the bladder with a fluid; andforming a pair of recesses on opposite sides of the buffer, between thebladder and the bottom of the pad, so that the bladder can be grippedwith the hand to apply the pad to the surface to be buffed.

The pad may form the bottom of the bladder; or it may be a separate anddistinct item which is secured to the bladder so 'as to be conjointlyshiftable therewith. In the latter case, the pad may be secured to thebladder before it is inflated; or it may be secured at a subsequenttime. Preferably, the pad is also inflatable, and is inflated with thebladder so that the hand is cushioned by the pad when the pad is appliedto the surface to be buffed.

The recesses may be formed by the manner in which the pad is secured tothe bladder. For example, the pad may be secured to the bladder so thatthe mutually opposing faces of the bladder and the pad are separatedfrom one another at the edges when the bladder is inflated. In fact,certain preferred embodiments of the invention employ an arrangementwherein the faces are spaced apart from one another across the entirewidth of the butter, from one side to the other, so that an opening isformed into which the thumb and/ or fingers of the hand can be insertedto take a handle grip on the bladder.

The invention also contemplates that the pad and the bladder may both beflexible in construction and wholly or partially detachable from oneanother to facilitate storing the buffer in a more compact form. Forexample, certain of the preferred embodiments employ an arrangementwherein the pad and the bladder are hingedly interconnected with oneanother at one end, and otherwise detachably connected so that they canbe pivoted into general alignment with one another, and then folded,rolled, or otherwise reshaped into a more compact form when the bladderis deflated.

Other features of the invention relate to certain means I have devisedfor maintaining the inflated condition of the bladder. If desired, thepad may be employed to retain the fluid in the bladder. For example,certain of the aforesaid hingedly interconnected constructions employ abladder which is ported at the other end. When assembling the buffer,this other end is partially rolled up to close the port, and then, afterthe bladder is folded over the pad, a portion of the pad is clampedabout the rolled end to prevent it from unrolling. The clampingarrangement may also serve to detachably interconnect the bladder to thepad at this end. When given the two functions, the arrangement makes theassembly exceptionally easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

Still other features of the invention relate to the shape of the padwhen it is inflated. For example, a recess may be formed in the bottomof the pad when it is inflated, to lend flatness or concave contour tothe bottom as the pad is applied to the surface to be buffed. Thus, thepad can achieve a better bufling effect on rimmed or edged surfaces suchas the raised seam of a shoe.

Brief description of the drawings These and other features of theinvention will be better understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings which illustrate several of the preferred embodiments, andalso, certain methods by which they may be assembled. In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the hingedly interconnected roll-upversion after the buffer has been fully assembled for use;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of this version;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded view of the version showing the various elementswhich go into its manufacture;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the version after the elements inFIGURE 3 have been assembled;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the version after the bladder has beeninflated;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of another version, again after it hasbeen fully assembled for use;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of this latter version in the partiallyassembled condition;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of a third version;

FIGURE 9 is a side elevational view of this third version;

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of still another version which employs anoninflatable pad;

FIGURE 11 is a partially assembled view of the noninflatable version inFIGURE 10; and

FIGURE 12 is a cross-sectional view of a contoured version of theFIGURES 15 embodiment.

Description of the preferred embodiments Referring to FIGURES 15, itwill be seen that the buffer 2 comprises an elongated tubular baldder 4of polyethylene or other heat fusible material which is cut into threestrips and assembled and joined in the manner of FIGURES 3 and 4. Two ofthe strips 6 and 8, correspond to one another in length and width, whilethe third 10 is shorter, and shaped at one end to from a tab 12. Thethird strip 10 is also equipped with a pair of cooperating male andfemale snap fastener attachments 14 and 16 which are fixed to the endsof the strip, including the end formed by the tab 12.

At the time of assembly the longer strips 6 and 8 are laid face-to-facewith one another, and then superposed over the third strip 10 so thattheir right-hand ends coincide with the line of juncture 18 between thetab 12 and the main body of the third strip 10. Then, the longitudinaledges of all three strips are heat sealed to one another and, inaddition, a heat seal is developed among the three strips along the lineof juncture 18 of the tab. This, in effect, produces a pair of tubularbladders, but only the bladder 4 formed between the longer strips isessentail to the invention. If desired, however, the other bladder 4'can be used to hold padding or cushioning material (not shown) foradditional comfort to the hand. Having assembled the bladder 4, a stripof adhesivebacked buffer material 20 is applied to the underside of thebladder at a location adjacent the right-hand or tabbed end 12 of thesame. The strip 20 may be applied prior to inflating the bladder, or itmay be applied at some subsequent time. In all events, the butter isfurther assembled by inflating the bladder 4 through the opening or port22 in the left-hand end 24 of the same; then rolling up that portion 24of the end which outlines the nearby snap attachment 14 on the thirdsheet; then folding the greater left-hand section 26 of the bladder overthe right-hand section 28; and then clamping the tab 12 over the rolledend 24 of the bladder and engaging the snap attachments 14 and 16 in themanner of FIGURE 1.

As seen in FIGURES 1 and 2, this produces an assembly in which a pair ofrecesses 30, in fact an opening 32, is formed between the upper andlower sections 26 and 28 of the bladder, so that a user may grip thebuffer by passing his thumb and fingers around the upper section 26 andinto the opening 32 between the sections. The upper section 26 thusbecomes a handle for the buffer, Whereas the lower section 28 functionsas the buffer pad. While a certain amount of air may escape from theported end 24 of the bladder, the rate of escape is so small that theuser has ample opportunity to complete the buffing operation before thebladder is deflated. In fact, in most instances, the bladder is notdeflated until the snap attachments are disengaged and the tab isreleased.

Should the user desire to store the buffer in a more compact form, hecan disengage the attachments and release the tab, and then unfold thebuffer to the condition of FIGURE whereupon the whole of the buffer canbe rolled up from one end to the other to reshape it into an easilystorable item. A rubber band assists in preserving the roll.

Another method of forming the buffer is to inflate, fold, and engage theends of the bladder 4 in the manner described, but absent the bufferstrip 20; and then to slip a sock (not shown) of butter material overthe bladder until the bladder is substantially enclosed in the sock. Asbefore, recesses are provided on the sides of the buffer,

although the user must press in the sides of the sock to detect them forhis grip.

The buffer 35 in FIGURES 6 and 7 varies from that in FIGURES 1-5 in thatit is ported through a conventional diaphragm valve 34 and has a pair ofopposed notches 36 formed along the line of the bladder 38 at which thefold is made. The diaphragm valve 34 operates in conventional manner toadmit air at several openings around the diaphragm when the mouth isapplied, but to close under the pressure of the captive air charge, whenthe pressure of the mouth is released from the diaphragm. After the twosections of the bladder to either side of the notches 36 are folded overand onto one another, a pair of snap attachments 40 and 4-2 are mated toconnect the sections in the manner of FIGURE 6.

In the embodiment of FIGURES 89, the two sections 44 and 46 of thebladder 48 are stacked on top of one another at the time of manufacture.As seen, the bladder has a relatively enlarged lower pad section 46,carrying the buffer strip 50, and a relatively reduced upper section 44which is available as a handle for the buffing operation. The twosections are secured by a rectangular seam 52, and in use the thumb andfingers are inserted into the recesses 54 on the opposite sides of thebuffer between the sections 44 and 46. Preferably, rubber is employed inmaking up the sections, and the lower section carries a rubber nipple56, through which the air charge is admitted to the bladder. Apertures58 within the seam 52 enable the charge to move into the upper section44. After the bladder is inflated, the nipple 56 is folded and insertedunder a strap 60 aflixed to the lower section 46.

The embodiment in FIGURES l0 and 11 illustrates a version of theinvention in which the bufler pad is non-inflatable. Instead, the lowersection (the left-hand section 62 in FIGURE 11) is formed from a stripof foambacked bufling material which is hingedly interconnected to apolyethylene bladder 64, in somewhat similar fashion to the version inFIGURES 6 and 7.

The embodiment in FIGURES 10 and 11 also illustrates a differentmechanism for detachably interconnect ing the two sections. In thiscase, the ported end 66 of the bladder is rolled up to a pair of notches68 in the sides of the bladder, and then the bladder is folded over ontothe buffer strip 62, and the roll 66 of bladder material is used as partof the means for connecting the bladder to the strip at the other end.As seen, the far end of the strip is fashioned with a pair of loops 70into which the ends of the roll 66 can be inserted to make theconnection. The loops, of course, also prevent the roll from unrolling.

In FIGURE 12, a longitudinal seam 72 is formed in the lower pad section28' of the bladder 4 in FIGURES 1-5, to lend a flatter or more concavecontour to the bottom of the pad. The seam also has the effect ofdividing the section into two chambers 74, which increases the pressureof the gas charge when it is blown into the bladder. Of course, in allembodiments, the acts of rolling and folding the bladder have a similareffect, so that in most instances, it is necessary to blow very littleair into the bladder to inflate it.

When a buffer pad or strip becomes worn, it may be replaced withanother. The term buffer encompasses many actions other than polishing,as for example, sanding, rubbing, and brushing.

It is also contemplated that an annular buffer strip may be slippedloosely over the lower section of the bladder in, for example, theembodiment of FIGURES 1-5, to form the section into a butter pad. Insuch a case, the strip can be rotated from time to time, to renew thebufling surface of the pad.

The buffer may also be equipped with a strap and snap attachments, tomaintain the fully rolled, storable condition of the same when thebladder is deflated. Such a combination is commonly used on umbrellas,to fold them into tightly clasped units. However, in the presentcircumstances, the strap and snap attachments may also perform thefunction of the tab 12 and the attachments 14 and 16, in FIGURES 1-5,when the buffer is put to use.

It will also be understood that many other changes and additions can bemade in and to the invention without departing from the scope and spiritof the same as defined in the claims following.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a hand-operated buffer which is applied so that one face thereofis directly contacted with the surface to be buffed, a buffer pad whichis disposed in the contact face of the buffer and has a bufling surfacethereon extending over substantially the entire area of the face, and aninflatable bladder which is disposed on the opposite side of the padfrom the face of the bufler and interconnected with the pad so that thebladder and pad are conjointly shiftable, there being a pair of recessesformed in opposite sides of the buffer, between the bladder and the faceof the buffer, whereby the bladder is gripped with the hand to apply thepad to the surface to be buffed.

2. The buffer according to claim 1 wherein the buffer pad is capable offlexing in the one face of the buffer.

3. A hand-operated buffer according to claim 1 wherein the pad is alsoinflatable.

4. A hand-operated buffer according to claim 1 wherein the pad issecured to the bladder so that the mutually opposing faces of thebladder and the pad are separated from one another at the edges when thebladder is inflated.

5. A hand-operated buffer according to claim 4 wherein the faces of thebladder and the pad are spaced apart from one another across the entirewidth of the buffer, from one side to the other, so that an opening isformed into which the thumb and/or fingers of the hand can be insertedto take a handle grip on the bladder.

6. A hand-operated buffer according to claim 1 wherein the bladder andthe pad are each flexible in construction.

7. A hand-operated bufler according to claim 6 wherein the bladder andthe pad are detachable from one another to facilitate storage in a morecompact form.

8. A hand-operated buffer according to claim 7 wherein the bladder andthe pad are hingedly interconnected with one another at one end, andotherwise detachably connected so that they can be pivoted into generalalignment with one another.

9. A hand-operated bufl er comprising a buffer pad, and an inflatablebladder superposed over the pad and interconnected with the same so thatthe bladder and the pad are conjointly shiftable, there being a pair ofrecesses formed on opposite sides of the buffer, between the bladder andthe bottom of the pad, whereby the bladder can be gripped with the handto apply the pad to the surface to be buffed, and the bladder and thepad each being flexible in construction, and hingedly interconnectedwith one another at one end, the other end of the bladder beingpartially rolled up and having a portion of the pad clamped thereaboutto detachably interconnect the bladder and the pad at this other end.

10. A hand-operated buffer according to claim 9 wherein the aforesaidother end of the bladder is ported when unrolled.

11. A hand-operated buffer comprising a buffer pad, and an inflatablebladder superposed over the pad and interconnected with the same so thatthe bladder and the pad are conjointed shiftable, there being a pair ofrecesses formed on opposite sides of the buffer, between the bladder andthe bottom of the pad, whereby the bladder can be gripped with the handto apply the pad to the surface to be buffed, and the pad also beinginflatable and having a recess formed in the bottom thereof when it isinflated, to lend flatness or concave contour to the bottom as the padis applied to the surface to be buffed.

12. A kit for assembling a hand-operated buffer which is applied so thatone face thereof is directly contacted with the surface to be buffed,comprising means for forming a buffer pad which is adapted to bedisposed in the contact face of the buffer and has a bufling surfacethereon to extend over substantially the entire area of the face, aninflatable bladder, means for interconnecting the bladder and the pad sothat the bladder is positionable on the opposite side of the pad fromthe face of the buffer, and secured to the pad so that the bladder andpad are conjointly shiftable, and means operable when the bladder is sopositioned in relation to the pad, to form a pair of recesses inopposite sides of the buffer, between the bladder and the face of thebuffer, whereby the bladder can be gripped with the hand to apply thepad to the surface to be buffed.

13. The buffer kit according to claim 12 wherein the buffer pad iscapable of flexing in the one face of the buffer.

14. A hand-operated buffer kit according to claim 12 wherein the bladderand the pad are interconnected in two sections which are superposableover one another, there being a pair of recesses formed between thesections, whereby the upper bladder section can be gripped with the handto apply the lower pad section to the surface to be buffed.

15. A method of developing a buffer which can be operated with the hand,comprising superposing an inflatable bladder over a pad of buffermaterial, interconnecting the bladder and the pad so that they areconjointly shiftable, inflating the bladder with a fluid, and grippingthe bladder with the hand to apply the pad to the surface to be buffed,there being a pair of recesses formed in opposite sides of the buffer,between the inflated bladder and the bottom of the pad.

16. A method of developing a buffer which can be operated with the hand,comprising superposing an inflatable bladder over a pad of buffermaterial, interconnecting the bladder and the pad so that they areconjointly shiftable, inflating the bladder with a fluid, and grippingthe bladder with the hand to apply the pad to the surface to be buffed,the pad being secured to the bladder so that the mutually opposing facesof the bladder and the pad are spaced apart from one another across theentire width of the buffer, from one side to the other, so that anopening is formed into which the thumb and/or fingers of the hand can beinserted to take a handle grip on the bladder.

17. A method of developing a buffer which can be operated with the hand,comprising superposing an inflatable bladder over an inflatable pad ofbuffer material, interconnecting the bladder and the pad so that theyare conjointly shiftable, inflating the bladder with a fluid, andgripping the bladder with the hand to apply the pad to the surface to bebuffed, the pad also being inflated with the bladder so that the hand iscushioned by the pad when the pad is applied to the surface to bebuffed.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 793,657 7/ 1905 Hardy 152092,854,685 10/1958 Steinbrecher 15-209 WALTER A. SOHEEL, PrimaryExaminer. LEON G. MACHLI'N, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R 1525 37. 3 -21

